Cell case machine



pt-14,1937. WEJENSE'NETAL 7 0 CELL CASE MACHINE Filed Jui 29. 1935 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fla.

INVENTORS.

BY Ear? 78% Z.

ATTTORNEY.

Sept. 14, 1937. w. E. JENSEN ET AL CELL CASE MACHINE Filed July 29, 1935 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY.

Sept. 14; 1937; w. E.JENSEN ET AL CELL CASE MACHINE Filed July 29, 1935 15 SheetS -Sheet s INVENTORIS flaifezZQ/Erzse/i Z6727 7z r/ l 1 V ATTORNEY.

Sept. 14, 1937. w. E. J-ENSEN ET AL 2,092,760

CELL CASE MACHINE Filed July 29, 1935" 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. fia/fezE-crzaerz I IG I 0 BY SD42? f/d' ATTORNEY.

Sept.'14, 1937. w 5 JENSENYIET AL 2,092,760

CELL CASE MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 29, 1935 INVENTORISQ 852 11 9756 BY 2 NEY.

7 I M m .3. o 6 0| 3 l 5 6 M M MM. l 0 7 a0. 7 7 7 I I II I n w I? m x f 7 I 0 I Spt. 14, 1937. w. e. JENSEN m. 2,092,760

CELL CASE MACHINE Filed July 29, 1935 l3 Sheets-Sheet 6 By 2.4;? Thad.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 14, 1937. w. E. JENSEN ET AL 1 CELL CASE MACHINE 13 SheetsSheet 7 Filed July 29, 1935 ill INVENTORS.

Jrp e71 y K 1 ATTORNEY.

Se t. 14, 1937. w. E. JENSEN ET AL 2,092,760

CELL CASE MACHINE Filed July 39, 1935 13 Sheet-Sheet s a 5'3 a 3 6 I y I 22+ 225 7 I 223. I ml 0 I 12H! O 226 22 I /6 2/4 L 227 223 Illll /1 i7 ml ATTORNEY.

Sept. 14, 1937. w. E. J ENSEI-I ET 50 CELL CASE MACHINE- Filed July '29,

1935 15 Sheecs-Sheet 9 Sept. 14, 1937 w. E. JENSENET AL CELL CASE MACHINE Filed Julyv29. 1935 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORS. 1 fz/Zrlfizzs e77. jaw and A TTORNE Y.

Sept. 14, 1937. w w. E. JENSEN ET AL CELL CASE MACHINE Filed July 29, 1935 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 Y.. m /a M I #3 Sgpt. 14, 1937. w. E. JENSEN El AL- CELL cAsE MACHINE Filed July 29, 1935 l3 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTORS /?d//e7 Zzf77 5er2 syfdrr M2 6 mmw ; ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE can. CASE amcnmr:

Walter E. Jensen, Chicago, and Dan R. Vail, Evanston, Ill., assignors to Paper Partitions, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application July zil, 1935, Serial No. 33,640

43 claims.

This invention relates to a machine for punching, cutting and interlocking together strips of paper or paper-like material to form cell cases.

More specifically, this invention relates to machines which are adapted to automatically form cell cases throughout a Wide range of sizes, and particularly adapted to make cell cases from heavy board-like paper material.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for makingcell cases from paper of any caliper without bending or damaging the paper.

A further object is to provide a compact machine for manufacturing cell cases of various sizes from paper board material.

Another object of this invention is to provide 'a cell case machine having a single assembly rack that can be adjustci to assemble cases of widely varying sizes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a machine of a highly flexible nature to manufacture cell cases in which the strips forming the cases may vary throughout a wide range in number, spacing, height and width.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine for making cell cases from stiff board-like material.

A specific object of th s invention is to provide a machine for making cell cases sufliciently stiff and heavy to replace the wooden partitions commonly used in beer cases and the like for separating large size bottles.

Other and further objec s of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which forms part of this specincation. It should be understood, however, that the drawings merely disclose a preferred embodimeLtof the invention and that equivalents, modifications and the like variations from the drawings are within the scope of this invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top' plan view, with a part broken away, of, a machine embodying the this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view chine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section,gwith parts in elevation, taken substantially along the line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 angenlarged vertical-'section taken substantially along the line IV-IV of Figure 1 illustrating the top punch.

Figure 4a is a vertical section taken substantially along the line IV-IV of Figure 1 and illustrating the bottom or lower punch.

principles of of the ma- Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line V--V of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view'illustrating the operation of the parts shown in Figures 4 and 5,-

along the line VII-VIl'of Figure 1.

Figure 7a is a horizontal cross sectional view taken .substantiallyalong the line VlIal-VIIa 10 of Figure 7 and also showing the control device for rotating the assembly rack.

Figure 7b is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along the line -'VI[b-VIIb of Figure 7a.

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in cross section, illustrating part of the feed roll drive mechanism shown in Figure 2.

-Figure 9 is an enlarged end elevational view 20 of the feed roll drive mechanism illustrated in Figure*& I

Figure 10 is an enlarged horizontal cross section taken substantially along the line XX of Figure 2 illustrating the indexing mechanism for 2 ing made.

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the'line XI-JH of Figure 10.

Figure '12 is a cross sectional view taken. s'ubo stantially along the line XII-9X11 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially along the line XIII-+XIII of Figure 2.

Figure 14 is a side elevational view taken sub- 5 stantially along the line XIV-XIV of Figure 13. Figure 15 is an enlarged broken side eleva-. tional view of the clutches and control cams for elevating and lowering the assembly rack wherel. v in the strips of the cell-case are interlocked. 40

Figure 16 is an end elevational view of a clutch andcam shown in Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a development illustrating the operationnf the cams shown in Figure 15, and

Figure 18 is a detailed view showing the elec 45 trical control mechanism for the clutches and feed roll, and illustrating how these mechanisms .are united in an electrical circuit.

. of this invention is 'illustrated in the perspective view shown in Figure 6. As shown therein, two I webs A and B form a pair of super-imposed feeder trays (shown in elevation in Fi ure 2 and in detail v in Figure 3) are directed respectively through superimposed punch presses and 2 wherein they are provided with slots Cand D respectively.- These slots C and D have V-shaped ends'to facilitate interlocking of the cell case strips. Two Vs are formed in each slot merely because the forming punch can be. more rigidly constructed with a double- V male member. The Vs in the web A open in an opposite direction than the Vs on the web B so that the slots may be readily fitted into each other when assembling the cell case.

The punched web A is then directed under a drive roll 3 and the punched web B is directed over a drive roll 4. A smaller roll 5 is adapted to be alternately urged against the rolls 3 and'4, so that one web at a time is gripped by its drive roll and advanced through the nip of-directing rolls 8 and I, and through a cutting device 8 into holders 8 of an assembly rack Ill. The cutting device 8 is then actuated to sever that portion of the web in the assembly rack from the web A to produce a strip E of the cell case being formed.

The rack i is then raised by the lift screw II to place another pairof holders 8 in front of the cutting device 8 for receiving the next strip E therein. When the desired number of strips E have been seated in the rack, the rack is rotated through a 90 turn by a rack l2 to place the slots C of the now vertical strips E in alignment with the cutting device 8.

The roll then shifts to grip the web B so that its drive roll 4, feeds the web through the cutting device 8 into the assembly rack. In this manner the slots C of the strips E receive the slots D of the web B in interlocking relation. The cutting device 8 then severs the seated portion of the web B to form a strip F of the cell case. The assembly rack is then lowered until the next series of slots C are opposite to' the cutting device. Another strip F is then interlocked into these slots as indicated above.

When the desired number of strips F are seated in the holders (three are shown), the rack l0 and holders'9 are withdrawn through a stripper (shown in Figure 2) by the draw bar I3, and the cell case drops onto a conveyor H which moves the cell case out of the machine.

As will be hereinafter described, all .of the moving parts of the machine are driven from a single drive shaft and timing mechanism is provided so that these parts will perform their respective functions. at the proper time.

General outline of the machine As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the general shape of the machine is rectangular and the various parts thereof are so arranged to provide a very compact structure. An open, space 28 is provided intermediate the ends of the machine through which the conveyor belt I 4 may travel to discharge the newly formed cell cases.

The mainframe 2| of the machine carries at the right hand end thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a pair of bearing brackets 22 and 23 in which is mounted a vertical shaft 24 carrying bushings 25 and 26 abutting the brackets 22 and 23 respectively for preventing longitudinal movement of the shaft in the brackets. The shaft 24 supports at the top end'thereof a frame structure 21 carrying a pair of feeder trays 28 and 28 in superimposed relation. The feeder trays serve to direct the webs of paper A and B from their respective rolls A and B (Figure 2) into the machine, and also serve to flatten out the paper.

The frame structure 21 also carries trimming devices hereinafter described for trimming the edges of the webs A and B: The trays and trimming devices are thus hinged to the main frame 2| and maybe readily swung out of the line of the machine for adjustment and inspection.

The main frame 2| has slidable on the .top thereof, near the center, a frame structure 32 carrying the punch presses I and 2. The main frame 2| also supports a frame structure 33 disposed in front of the frame-32. carries the feed rolls 3, 4 and 5, the guide rolls 8 and 1, and the cutting device 8.

An auxiliary main frame 34, somewhat lower than the frame 2|, carries in spaced relation in front of the frame 2| to define the space 20, a pair of vertical standards 35 carrying a cross bar 36 for supporting the lift screw The frame 34 also supports attendant mechanism, hereinafter described, for the operation of the assembly rack ill.

The drive for the machine comprises a main drive shaft,3| extending transversely through the main frame 2|. -The shaft 3'I extends through the back end of the machine as shown in Fig. 1 and carries a drive pulley 38 connected to the shaft by a clutch 39. The clutch 39 is manually operated by the lever 40. A channelled beam member 4| bent into a U-shape and carried by the frame 2| serves as a support for the end of' theshaft. The pulley 38, which also acts.as a fly wheel is mounted within the U- shaped member as shown.

All parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter described, are driven from the drive shaft 31.

feeder trays and edge trimming medhanism As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the feeder trays The frame 33 28 and 28 are carried by the frame 21 which is hinged to the right hand end of the machine. As best shown in Figure 3, this frame 21 has two pairs of laterally extending arms 42 and 43 supporting flat plates 44 and45respectively. Each plate 44 and 45 has side flanges 46 turned up at i the edges thereof to define a tray.

The flanges 46 have slots 41 and 48 out therethrough at opposite ends thereof. Rods 49 and 50 are freely mounted at their ends in the slots 41 and 48. The rods 48 and 58 extend across the width of the trays as shown at 50 in Figure 1 and have a top plate member 5| welded thereon flush with the bottom thereof. The paper webs A and B are directed under the plates 5| over the plates 44 and 45. Since the rods are freely mounted in the slots 41 and 48, the plates 5| fall by their own weight against the webs and serve to flatten and iron out the webs.

To facilitate threading the web into the trays,

the rods 48 and 50 may be raised in the slots 41 and 48 and dropped into the enlargedportions 41a and 48a thereof. The top plates are thus held in spaced relation from the bottom plates 44 and 45.

Each top plate 5|-has a handle 52 (Figure 3) secured to the top thereof for lifting the platefrom the bottom plate 44 when threading the web B thereover.

Each bottom plate 44 and 45 has slots 53 and 54 extending transversely thereacross in spaced 44 and 45 by means. of bolts extending therefrom Figure 1, have their vertical sides disposed toward each other, and thus serve to guide the edges of the webs A and B over the supporting plates 44 and 45. Since the bolts and 58 extend through slots in the bottom plates 44 and 45, it is evident that the angle members may be positioned to engage the edges of webs of any width less than the width of the trays.

Each of the arms 42 and 43 of the frame 21 has formed thereon. pairs of housings 63 and 64 (Figures l and 3) for receiving the ends of shafts 65 and 66 respectively. The shafts 65 and 66 extend in front of the trays 28 and 29 and are preferably not rotatable.

snugly fitting over each shaft 65 and 66 are pairs of roller or ball bearing races 61 and 68 with the outer race rings thereof freely rotatable relative to the inner race rings which engage the shafts. The bearing races serve as top cutting means and may be manually moved along the shaft in alignment with the edges of the web to be trimmed.

Cutting wheels 69 and I0 for trimming the edges'of the web are rotatably mounted below the shafts 65 and 66 respectively in yoked arms II and-I2. These yoked arms II and I2 are pivctally mounted in other yoked members I3 and I4 having legs I5 and I6 extending laterally therefrom. The members I3 and I4 are keyed on shafts I1 and I8 rotatably mounted at their ends in the arms 43 and 44 of the frame 21.

Worm. gears I9 and (Figure 2) are mounted at one'end of each shaft II and I8 for engaging worms BI and 82 respectively operated by hand wheels 83 and 84. A rotation of the hand wheels rotates the shafts I1 and I0 to disengage the cutting wheels 69 and I0 from cutting operation.

When the cutting wheelsare so disengaged the v yoked members I3 and I4 (Figure 3) may be slided along their shafts I1 and 18 to space the cutters along the shafts for cutting the web to the proper width. The key ways in the shafts I1 and I8 permit this sliding operation but look the yoked members I3 and I4 against rotation relative theretof It is to be understood that two or more yoked members, each carrying a cutter, are mounted Spring controller earns 90 and 9| are disposed around the bolts 85 and 86 respectively above the nuts 69. These cams 90 and 9i are each provided with flanges 92 on opposite sides thereof. The flanges 92 areadapted to fit over the edges of the members 'II and 12 as shown on the member I2 or by rotation through a quarter turn are adapted to be disposed under the members II and I2 as shown on member II. In this manner the coiled springs 81 and 88 arequickly released or compressed without readjusting the nuts 89. Any individual cutter wheel may thus be thrown out of contact from the web and held in spaced relation from its co-operating top bearing race by moving the cam to-the position shown on mem-- ber II.

at I and 2.

Coiled springs 81 and 88 are disposed The proper degree of compression of the cutting wheels 69 and I0 against'their co-operating bearing races 61 and 68 is produced by adjusting the nuts 89 to compress the coiled springs.

It is evident from the above description that the webs to be trimmed pass through the nip of the cutter wheels and their co-operating top bearing races and are thus trimmed by the cutting wheels. Since both the cutting wheel and its cooperating top bearing race are .freely rotatable, the same may be driven by merely pulling the web therebetween as it is drawn into the machine.

The punch press mechanism As pointed out in the description of Figure 6, the webs from the trimmers are next each directed through a punch press indicated generally As best shown in Figures 1 and 2 these presses are mounted in a frame 32 carried on top of the main frame of the machine in tracks 93. The frame 32 is moved along the tracks by rotating a hand wheel 94 which turns the shaft 95 carrying gears 96 and 91 enmeshed with toothed racks 98 and 99 respectively. These racks are secured on top of themain frame 2|.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 4, the frame 32 supports a pair of top cross beams I00 and IOI to which are bolted the female die meml I02 of the press I. The frame 32 also supprms lower cross beams I03 and I04 inofiset relation to the top pair of beams as shown in Figure 4a. The

lower beams I03 and I04-have bolted thereon the female die member I05 of the press 2. These female die members are stationary. I

The male members of the pressesl and 2 are bolted to reciprocating angle beams I 06 and I 01 (Figures 4 and 4a), which beams are secured at their ends to housing members I08 and I09 (Figures 1 and 2 The housing members are slidable on vertical shafts IIO carried by the frame 32 on each-side thereof.

The horizontal legs of each angle beam I06 and I0I are pro-vided with two slots I I I and H2 extending thereacross as shown in Figure 1. Bolts II3 are inserted through'the slots III to secure a plurality of chucks II4 (Figure 4) in proper spaced relation to the angle beams I06 and I0I. Any number of chucks II4 may be used and spaced where desired along the slot II I.

The chucks II4 carry the slot cutting knives II5. These knives I I5 are disposed at an angle as shown in Figures 4 and 4a and slide within the chucks. The knives II5 are provided with teeth I I6 along their top edges which mesh with toothed rods I| I disposed through each of the chucks II4 across the width of the die. The rotation of a rod II'Itherefore alJ'usts the knives to cut a slot of the desired length in the web sincethe knives are angularly disposed in the chucks and may thus be raised out of full cutting contact with the web.

The slots II2 have bolts II 8 extending therethrough to secure the V forming punches II9 to the angle members I06 and I0I. These punches II9 are provided with slots for receiving the knives II5 therethrough as shown in Figures 4 and 4a.

The female die members I02 and I05 are promember as it-israised, stripping bands I20 are bands carry brackets I2I" and I22 on their ends. The brackets are supported by and slidable along rods I23 and I24 respectively. The rods are secured at their ends to a stationary part of the frame 32.

The brackets I22 receive 'therethrough vertical guide rods I25"carried by the chucks 4. These rods I25 slide freely back and forth through the brackets I22 but serve to align the stripping bands I20 with the male dies when the same are reset relative to the beams I06 and I01.

The male members of the punch presses are driven simultaneously through linli arms I26 (Figures land 2) connected with the housing members I08 and I09. The link arms are driven by eccentrics I21 mounted on the drive shaft 31 cross heads I 26a are secured to rods I26b (Figure 2) which are fastened at their other ends to the frame 33 through springs (not shown). In this manner the frame 32 supporting the punch presses may be slid along the main frame 2I without changing the vertical alignment of the link I26. The cross heads I26a are locked in the members I08 and I09 when the machine is operating.

The feed roll mechanism From the punch presses the webs A and l 2/are directed through the feed roll mechanism carried by the frame 33 (Figures 1 and 2).

This mechanism, best shown in Figure 5, comprises the two feed rolls 3 and 4 and the smaller gripping roll 5 described above in connection with Figure 6. l

The feed rolls 3 and 4 are driven simultaneously but intermittently by a rack arm I28 through a train of gears I29, I3I and I32 (Figures 1 and 2). The gear I29 meshes with the rack I28 and drives a roller clutch I30 carried by the frame 33. The clutch I30 has a gear meshing with the gear I3I which is keyed to the shaft of the feed roll 3. The clutch I30 also drives another idler gear I32 carried by the frame 33. The idler gear I 32 drives the gear I33 which is keyed to the shaft of the feed roller 4. As the rack I28 is reciprocated on the drive stroke, the clutch I30 is engaged to drive the feed rolls 3 and 4 through the train of gears described above. On the return stroke the rack I28 rides idle because the clutch I30 engages in one direction only.

Therack I 28 is reciprocated through a lost motion device I-34 best shown in Figures 8 and 9. The device I34 is pivoted to the main frame 2| at I35 and driven by a cam bearing I36. The cam I36 is carried by the eccentric disc I21 driven by the shaft 31. The shaft 31 terminates flush with the outside face of the eccentric I21.

As the drive shaft 31 rotates, it drives the eccentric I21 thus also moving the cam I36 to oscilate the lost motion device I 34. The cam I36 is mounted in a slot I31 cut out in the back face of the device I34. The cam rolls in this slot I31 as it is driven toward and away from the pivot I35, but at, thefiame time serves to oscillate the device I34.

The front face of the device I34 is provided with a dovetailed groove I38. A block I39 is dovetailed into the groove and carries a pinion gear I40 enmeshed with teeth I formed in the groove I36. A knurled knob I42 'is provided for manually rotating the gear I40 for setting the block I 39 in adjusted position in the groove. The adjusted'block isthen locked by one of the set screws I43 (Figure 8). The amount of movement of the rack is thus controlled by adjusting the block I39in the lost motion device I34. The amount of rotation of the feed-rolls 3 and 4 can thus be accurately set.

While the feed rolls 3 and 4 are directly mounted in the frame 33, the gripping roll 5, however,

is carried in supports I44 which are keyed to a shaft I45. The shaft H5 is mounted at its ends on the frame 33 as shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure-5, a cam I46 is keyed to a shaft I41 mounted below the shaft I in the frame 33. The shaft I41, as shown in Figure 1, extends through the frame 33 at the back side of the machine and is secured to a ratchet gear I48 (better illustrated in Figure 18). A pawl I49 (Figure 18) on a support I 50 is urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear by a spring I5I. The pawl support I50 is oscillated by a link red I 52 mounted on an eccentric'disc I52a eccentricaliy secured on the drive shaft 31 (Figures 1 and 10).

A wheel or roller I53 (Figure 5) carried by a member I54 rides the cam I 46 and is held thereagainst by a tension spring I55 secured at one end to the frame 33 and at the other end to the member I54. The member I 54 has a T-shaped.

portion I56 pivoted at the center thereof in a' ber I 44. When the wheel I53 rides the low portions of the cam I46 as shown in Figure 5, the

,member I54 urges the gripping roll 5 against the feed roller 3 so that the feed roller will pull the web A. However, when the wheel I53 rides the The webs A and B are then directed over a wedge shaped plate I60 through the nip of the guide rolls 6 and 1.

The member I44 has an extension I6I thereon provided at its end with a boss I62. The boss I62 is pinned to a vertical rod I63 carrying plates I64 and I65 which are disposed over the wedge shaped plate I60.

The web A passes under the plate I65 while the web B passes over the plate I64. When the boss I62 is raised, the coiled springs I 61 and I68 disposed around the rod I63 are compressed thereby raising the plate I65 from the web A and urging the plate I64 against the wedge plate I60 thus clamping the web B. The web A can then pass freelythrough the rolls 6 and 1, but the web B cannot move.

However, when the boss I62 is lowered, springs I66 and I69, also disposed around the rod I63, as shown, arecompressed, while the springs I 61 and-I68 are expanded. The compressed springs move the plate I64 away from the web B and clamp the plate I65 against the web A. This device-acts as a braking mechanism for the webs to stop their movement as soon as the gripping roll is disengaged from their respective driving rolls. a

From the above description, it is evident the link arm I28 drives the feed roll 3 in a clockwise direction and at the same time drives the feed roll 4 in a counter-clockwise direction for pulling the webs A and B through the feeder trays and the punch presses and feeding the punched webs through ,the cutter 8 (Figure 5) into the assembly rack I0.- The rolls are driven intermittently, however, only when thepunches are open and when the assembly rack is posi-. tioned to receive the web.

Since the gripping roll 6 can only be urged desired number of strips from the web A have I been seated in the assembly rack.

' The cutting mechanism After the paper webs A and B pass through the nips of the guide rolls 6 and], they are directed between spaced horizontal plates I10 and I" (Figure 5) to the cutting mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 8.

The cutting mechanism 8 comprises a stationary block I12 mounted in the frame 33 near the top thereof. The block I12 carries a stationary knife I13 which may be adjusted by means of a set screw I14 so that the knife edge thereof contacts the top surface of a web.

The frame 33 also carries a slidable support I15 disposed at right angles to the block I12. The support I15 carries the lower knife I16 which is adjustable therein by means of a set screw I11. The support I15 is pivotally connected at I18 to a driving rod I19. It should be understood that while only one rod I19 is shown, however, a similar rod is disposed at the other end of the support I15 in an identical manner. The rods I19 are reciprocated by the main drive shaft 31, by eccentrics, I80 keyed to the shaft (Figure 10). When one of the webs A or Bis properly seated in the assembly rack I0, the cutting knife I16 is actuated to cut off the seated portion of the web to form a cell case strip. The operation of the cutting knife I16 is properly timed so that the cutting action occurs only when the strip forming portions of the web are properly seated in the assembly rack.

The assembly rack mechanism As best shown in Figures 2 and 6, the assembly rack I carries the holders 9 for receiving the strip E. The rack I0 is carried by a draw bar I3 mounted in a boss I8I which boss in turn is rotatably mounted in a boss I82 of an elevating member I83. The elevating member is in threaded relation on the lift screw I I.

The lift screw II, as shown in Figure 7, is rotatably mounted at the bottom in a gear box 244 and is supported at the top by a cross beam 36 carried by the'vertical standards 35 (Figure 2) of the frame 34.

As shown in Figure 2 the holders 9 of the assembly rack I0 extend through a stripping cage I85 carried by a plate I86 mounted on the end of the boss I8I. The holders 9 may be drawn through the cage I85 to strip the cell case therefrom by pulling the draw bar I3, carrying the rack I0, through the boss I8I. The mechanism for this latter operation comprises a member I81 aocavco that v 204 rotatably mounted on a shaft :205.

shaft 205 is supported by brackets 206 extending (Figure is) threaded on the end of the boss I81 and having bolts I88 extending therefrom. A

bearing cup I89, having a thrust bearing I90 therein, is slidable along-the bolts I88 and disposed around a sleeve I9I having'an outturned flange I92 engaging the top of the thrust bearing I90. 7

A cap I93 is disposed over the bearing cup I89 and secured thereon by means of screws I94. The

cap I93 is pinned to the draw bar I3 by a pin The bolts I88 have disposed therearound coiled springs I96 abutting the bearing cup I89 at one end and fiat circular washers I91 held by nuts I98 at the other end.

A pulley I99 is rotatably mounted on the end of the sleeve I9I. A pair of pulleys 200 have a support 20I provided with a grooved circular base 202 engaging in rotatable relation the washers I91.

A chain or cable 203 is threaded'over the pulleys I99 and 200 as shown in Figures 2 and 14 and is secured at one, end to a relatively large drum The from the vertical standards 35.

A smaller drum 201 is integrally united with I 2% together wrap around a lower drum 209 driven by a ratchet device 2I0 which device is actuated by a link 2 connected indirectly to the main drive shaft 31.

A rotation of the driving drum 209 thus wraps the cable 208 therearound and unwraps the cable from the smaller drumv201 thereby rotating the larger. drum 204 and wrapping the cable 203 therearound at a relatively high speed. At the same time thepthef end of the cable .203 is wrapped around the driving drum 209 and the pulley I99 is moved against the pressure of the springs I96 toward the pulley 200 thereby withdrawing the draw bar I3.

The thrust bearing arrangement permits a rotation of the boss I8I without rotating the pulleys I99 and 200. In other words the bolts I88 and springs I96 rotate with the boss I8 I ,but the sleeve I9l thereindoes not rotate because of the thrust bearing I90. Since the draw bar I3 is pinned to the cap I93, the same is moved when-the pulley .I99 is moved toward the pulleys 200 through the sleeve I9I pulling the bearing cup I89 and the cap I93. The cable arrangement is necessary because the lift screw raises and lowers the assembly rack and the draw bar is only withdrawn at theIend of the downward stroke to discharge the finished cell case. When the drum 209 is idle, the cable 203 permits raisingand lowering of the assembly rack without disturbing the draw bar. The swivel mounting arrangement also permits a rotation of the assembly rack without interfering with the operation of the I .rack is at the top of its stroke. When the rack is at the bottom of its stroke, the draw bar I3 is moved to withdraw the assembly rack through Mechanism for rotating the assembly rack As shown in Figure 6, the rack l2 meshes with the gear 212 to rotate the boss l8l when the ele-' vating member I83 is at its top point on the lift screw, and thus rotate the assembly rack i0 through a turn.

The rack I2 is operated by mechanism best shown .in Figures 7a, 7b and -13. As therein shown, the end of the rack l2 slides in the housing 2i3. A vertical toothed rod 2 having teeth along its entire length slides through the housing 2l3 as shown. The teeth of the rod 2, although in constant engagement with the teeth 2| 5 of the rack l2, are in vertical alignment with the teeth 2l5 and slide vertically thereon. The housing 213 may thus move up or down with the elevating housing I83 without actuating the draw bar l2.

A pair of horizontally disposed racks 2l6 and 2" are slidably mounted on rollers 2I8 and M9 in spaced opposed relation and have teeth meshing with the teeth on the vertical rod 2 but also slidable relative thereto. A link arm 220, oscillated by a member 234b (hereinafter described) which is keyed to an auxiliary rocking shaft 233, has a laterally extending boss- 22| rotatably mounted on the end thereof. The boss 22I carries a block 222 mounted between the racks 2H5 and 2H. A, trip device 223, operated by a cam mechanism hereinafter described, is pivotally carried on the block 222. The trip carries a pin 224 on which is hooked a coiled spring 224a to hold the trip in place. Each of the racks 2l6 and 2H has an abutment 225 adapted to be engaged by the spring trip device 223.

When the elevating housing I83 reaches the,

top of its travel, the trip device 223 is engaged with the abutment 225 of the rack 2H, and the link arm 22!) drives the block 222 to slide the rack 2l1 ahead in the rollers 2i 8. This movementof the rack rotates the toothed rod 2 enmeshed therewith. The rotation of the rod 2 l4 slides the rack 2l6.back along the rollers 2l9 and at the same time the rack I2 is moved to rotate the boss I8l through a 90 turn and thereby turn the assembly rack.

When the elevating housing I83 reaches its bottom position while the finished cell case is being stripped from the assembly rack, the trip device 223 is moved to engage the abutment 225 of the rack M6 to slide this rack ahead along the rollers 2l9 and rotate the rod 2 l4 in the opposite direction. The boss I8! is thus rotated back 90 to its initial position to align the assembly rack ID for assembly of a new cell case.

The trip 223, as shownin Figures 7a and 7b, is actuated by a pointed finger 226 keyed to a rod 221 carried by a bracket 221a. secured to the frame 34. A spring metal strip 228 extends through a slot in the rod 221. The strip 228 extends through a slot in a finger 229 riding in a slotted cam 2290.. The cam is mounted on a cam shaft 253 located in the rear of the machine as will be described. When the shaft 253 rotates, the cam 229a. moves the finger 229 to alternately move the strip from one side of the finger 226 to the other, thereby swinging this finger. As the driving link 220 moves the block 222 toward the rear of th" machine the pin 224 strikes the finger and is directed toward theside in which the finger points to engage the trip 223 with the rack 2|. or 211. The ca'm 229a thereby controls the operation of the trip 223 and the assembly rack, I3 is rotated 90' only when at the top and at the bottom of its stroke.

The lift screw driving mechanism As shown in Figures 1, '7, 7a and 13, the main" drive shaft 31 has an eccentric disc 23!! secured 1 thereon to which is fastened a link arm 23!. The link arm is connected through a bell crank 232 to rock a shaft 233.

Three adiusting members 234, 2340. and 234b, are keyed to the shaft 233 and spaced as shown 1 in Figures 1 and 13.

As indicated in Figure 7, each member 234, 234a and 23427 comprises a slotted portion 235, a bolt 236 extending therethrough, operated manually by a knurled knob 231, and a boss member 5 238 carried by the bolt 236.

Racks 239, 2390. and 23917 are pivoted to the respective bosses 238 of the members 234, 2341: and 2341;. These racks slide through saddles or housings 240, 240a and 24th to drive small gears i such as the gear 2, rotatably mounted on a clutch shaft 242. The shaft 242- carries roller cam clutches 243, 243a. and 243b (shown in detail in Figures 15 and 16) The clutches 243, 243a and 243b, when engaged, by mechanism hereinafter described, drive the shaft 242.

Within a gear box 244, through which the shaft 242 passes, a large gear 245 is mounted and keyed to the shaft 242. The large gear 245 meshes with i a small gear 246 keyed to a stub shaft 241 in the gear box 244. A large gear 248 is driven by the stub shaft 241 and drives a spur gear 249. The spur gear, in turn, drives the vertical supporting rod 250 through a pair of bevel 'gears 25!. The supporting rod 250 is connected, through a spring loaded slip clutch 252, to the lift screw II. The function of the slip clutch will be hereinafter described.

Control mechanism for the clutches At the rear of the machine, as shown in Figure 1, there is mounted a shaft 253 positioned above the clutch shaft 242. This shaft is driven through a ratchet and pawl device 254 (better 1 shown in Figure 18) by a link arm 255 pivotally connected at 256 to the adjusting member 234. As described above, the adjusting member 234 is keyed on the shaft 233 and driven by the main drive shaft of the machine.

The rear shaft 253 carries three slotted cams 251, 251a and 251b. Riding in the slots of the cams are fingers 258, 258a and 25% respectively. These fingers, in turn, receive spring metal strips 259, 259a and 25% (better shown in Figures 15 4 and 16).

The strips 259 are secured to yokes 260, 268a and 260?) respectively. The yokes are respectively pivoted, on pins 26l, 26in and 26"), carried by a cross beam 262 of the frame 34. The male portion of the clutches 243, 243a and 243b are actuated by these yokes.

' As the cams 251, 251a and 2511) are rotated by the ratchet and pawl device 254 driving the cam shaft 253, the spring strips are bent by the fingers riding in the slots to snap the clutches into and out of engagement to perform their function of driving the mechanism described above to rotate the liftscrew in either direction at the proper speed. Three clutches instead of only two i are desirable. The third clutch serves as a correction factor making. it possible to lose a stroke 01" to gain a strokeon the returning of the assembly rack to its initial position for receiving a new cell case therein as will be hereinafter described.

It is evident from the above description that the three adjusting members 234, 234a and 2342) drive the female portion of the clutches through the racks 239, 239a and 2391). The cams on the cam shaft are made so that only one clutch will be .stroke will rotate the clutch just the amount necessary to raise the assembly rack a desiredclegree for receiving the strip E of the cell case being formed. The amount of the driving stroke can be nicely adjusted by the members 234. The rack 239, on its return stroke, runs idle because, as pointed out above, the clutches drive in one direction only. During this idle stroke, a strip E is seated in the assembly rack. On the next drive stroke, the assembly rack is raised another desired amount to receive the next strip E.

When the assembly rack reaches the top of its stroke the clutch 239 is disengaged and, in fact, all of the clutches are. disengaged at this point. The assembly rack is then rotated through 90, the first strip F of the cell case is seated therein and. the clutch 2430 is then engaged to lower the assembly rack, step by step, in the same manner in which the clutch 243 raises the assembly rack. The clutch 243a, however, drives in the opposite direction to the clutch 243 on the return stroke of the rack 239a so that the lift screw rotates in the opposite direction than when the clutch 243 is engaged. a

When the cell case in the assembly rack is completed, it is discharged as described above.

, instead of below or above its starting position.

It is evident that the number of strips in the cell case being formed and the sizeyof .thwe strips will vary the amount of correction necessary.

The desired amount of correction is readily obtained by an adjustment of the adjusting member 2342).

The purpose of the slip clutch 252 is to. serve as an overload slip means in the event that the assembly rack reaches its bottom position as determined by the stop collar lid on the lift screw before the clutch 243a is disengaged. This slip clutch serves as a safety factor and merely permits slippage between the supporting member 256 and the lift screw IL.

The indexing mechanism The cam shaft 253, as pointed out above, is rotated through the ratchet and pawl device 254 (Figure 18). Since, however, the machine is of a highly flexible nature adapted to form cell cases having different numbers of strips or ribbons therein, this device 254 and the ratchet and pawl device I50, must be differently operated for each type of cell case to be made. As pointed out above, the ratchet and pawl device I56 rotates the cam shaft I41 which controls the position of the gripping roll 5.

For the purpose of regulating the operation of the ratchet and pawl devices I and 254, an indexing mechanism, best shown in Figure 10, is used. I

This indexing mechanism comprises a basket or cage 263 rotatably. mounted on a shaft 264 which shaft is, in turn, rotatably mounted in the main frame 2|. The cage 263 has a plurality of ratchet gears 265 mounted therein. All of the gears 265 are keyed to the shaft 264 and are thusadapted to rotate the shaft relative to the cage. Each succeeding gear 265, however, has one more tooth than its predecessor.

A pawl 266 is slidably mounted on a rod 261 carried by the cage 263 and held to engage the teeth of a gear 265 by a coiled spring 268. This spring is anchored at one end on the pawl at 218 and is hooked at its other end over a rod 269 carried by thecage. The rod 269 is in spaced parallel relation from the rod 261. In this manner the pawl and spring may be moved manually.

The cage 263 is rocked on the shaft 2-64through I a link 21l by an eccentric disc 212 on the main As the cage is rocked on the drive shaft 31. driving stroke, the pawl 266 engages a tooth of the gear 265 on which it is set. This gear then rotates the shaft 264 a distance equivalent to the length of the tooth on the gear 265. On the return rocking stroke, the pawl slipsfover thegear to engage the next tooth thereon. To prevent an over-riding of the shaft 264 and to prevent a back-rotation thereof during this backstroke, a simple friction brake device 213 is moimted around a flanged boss 214 keyed to the end of the shaft 264 outside of the main frame 2 I. The desired amount of friction can be maintained by a manual setting of the clamping screw 215 on the brake devices The flange of the boss 214 is provided with a groove 216 that is T-shaped in cross-section as shown. This groove extends around the peripher-y of the flange on the boss. Contact members 211 and 218 (Figure 18) are bolted onto the flange by bolts 2f|9-and 286 having their heads seated in the groove 216. As'is evident, these contact members may be properly spaced around the periphery of the flange-on the boss 214 by loosening the bolts 219 and 286. The number of pairs of contact members 211 and 218 used depend upon the nature of the cell case being formed. The condition of the current must be changed twice for completion of a cell case. If a cell case being formed is completed in less than one revolution of the member 214, other pairs of contact members must be secured to this member.

noid 281 and through a wire 296 to a solenoid 293.

As shown. in Figures 2 and 18, the contact The wheel 28l'carries a The switch 285 is elec- 

